Ticks

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A hike brings the chance of exposure to deer ticks which carry Lyme disease. Ticks hide in shady, moist ground litter and also cling to tall grass, brush, shrubs, and low tree branches. People and animals acquire ticks only by direct contact. When hiking, follow these precautions to prevent exposure:

  • Wear light-colored clothing so you can more easily see ticks.
  • Wear long sleeves buttoned at the wrist and long pants tucked into socks. Take a hat to protect your head.
  • Walk in the center of trails to avoid brushing up against dense vegetation where ticks hide. Avoid sitting directly on the ground, use a blanket or towel.
  • Do a tick check every few hours or more often if in heavily infested areas. Visually check clothing and exposed skin. At the end of the day, do a final, full-body tick check.
  • Use an insect repellant containing DEET. Lightly spray clothing, especially children's, and avoid direct contact with skin.
  • Remove ticks as soon as you detect them. Do not touch them directly, use a tweezers or tissue and do not crush the insect until it is separated from the skin and placed in a disposable container.


The Following Guidelines Should Be Followed During Tick Removal.

1. Avoid handling ticks with uncovered fingers; use tweezers or commercial tools designed for removal. If index finger and thumb must be used, protect them with rubber gloves, plastic or even a paper towel.

2. Place the tips of tweezers or edges of other removal devices around the area where the mouthparts enter the skin.

3. With steady slow motion, pull the tick away from the skin or slide the removal device along the skin (read the directions for each commercial tool). Do not jerk, crush, squeeze or puncture the tick.

4. After removal, place the tick directly into a sealable container. Disinfect the area around the bite site using standard procedures.

5. Keep the tick alive for a month in case symptoms of a tick-borne disease develop. Place it in a labeled (date, patient), sealed bag or vial with a lightly moistened paper towel then store at refrigerator temperature.


Repellents


Clothing

Tick repellents that contain "permethrin" (Permanone, Permakill) are meant to be sprayed onto clothing. Spray the clothes before they're put on, and let them dry first. Do not apply this chemical directly to the skin.


Skin


Avoid using repeated applications of repellents containing DEET on children. It is safe when used according to directions, but isn't meant for long-term (every day) use and should be kept away from eyes and mouth.

See your doctor if a rash develops where you remove a tick or if you find one a day after you believe you were exposed.
Insect repellents that contain "DEET" are somewhat effective when applied to the arms, legs, and around the neck. Do not use any repellent over wide areas of the body as they can be absorbed causing toxicity. Also, it is inadvisable to use a product that contains more than 50% DEET, and 25% concentrations are preferred. Use repellents cautiously on small children, as they are more susceptible to their toxic effects. Be aware that this repellent evaporates quickly and must be reapplied frequently.

See Also:
  • Info on Deet

  • West Nile Q&A

  • Lymenet FAQ




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